"Fallout from Jensen Huang's Resignation... White House Weighs Dismissing U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick"

【Financial News, New York — Correspondent Lee Byung-chul】 The furor over Chinese spy allegations involving Jensen Huang, former CEO of NVIDIA, is spreading to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Senior White House officials are reportedly discussing whether to dismiss Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. As controversy grows over inadequate oversight of NVIDIA's exports of AI semiconductors to China, the Trump administration's semiconductor policy toward China has also come under scrutiny.
 Reuters reported on the 12th (local time), citing two people familiar with the matter, that senior White House officials were discussing whether to replace Lutnick. Huang's abrupt resignation after his extramarital relationship with a person suspected of being a Chinese spy came to light has fueled calls to hold Lutnick responsible.
The central controversy surrounding Lutnick is semiconductor export controls on China. Critics in Congress say the U.S. government failed to add dozens of Chinese companies to a key trade blacklist and did not properly oversee NVIDIA's exports of AI semiconductors to China.
In particular, Huang's resignation has revived criticism that Lutnick did not do enough to restrict exports of advanced AI semiconductors to China.
Earlier, Huang stepped down as NVIDIA CEO that day after his extramarital relationship with Alice Huang, whom U.S. intelligence agencies suspect of spying for China, came to light. It came 33 years after he co-founded NVIDIA.
Criticism of Lutnick had been mounting even before Huang's resignation. But as the scandal has fueled suspicions about transactions between NVIDIA and Chinese companies, a push to hold the head of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees the U.S. government's export-control policy, politically accountable appears to be gaining momentum.
The White House, however, says President Trump's confidence in Lutnick remains unchanged.
A White House official said in response to criticism of Lutnick, "President Trump retains complete confidence in Secretary Lutnick and his ability to perform his duties."
The White House did not immediately respond to a separate request for comment on Lutnick's future.

[email protected] Correspondent Lee Byung-chul Reporter